The women entered the Hamilton Road premises at around 3.40pm yesterday and asked to pay for the beauty product with money.

They were in the business for about 10 minutes and attempted to take back some of the cash and distract the assistant, but failed and left the shop empty handed.

Police inquiries have established that the pair also called at an antique dealer and jewellers in Cromer yesterday afternoon but did not attempt to defraud those businesses, according to a Norfolk police spokesman.

The women are described as of Asian Indian appearance, in their 20s or 30s with dark brown hair and blonde highlights. One was wearing a long black skirt and the other a long pink skirt.

A suspicious older-style silver BMW 3 series with a faulty brake light was also seen in the town at the time of the attempted crime.

Officers want to speak to anyone who may have seen the women or car in Cromer or anyone with information about this incident.

Witnesses should contact PC Adrian Craske at Cromer police station on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.